Sermon "You Are Chosen"
Kathryn Rust
Sunday, October 17, 1999
1 Thessalonians 1:1-10
For we know, brothers and sisters beloved by God, that he has chosen you, because our message of the gospel came to you not in word only, but also in power and in the holy spirit and with full conviction; just as you know what kind of persons we proved to be among you for your sake. 1 Thessalonians 1:4-5
In God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ
Grace to you and peace.
The city of Thessalonica was a bustling seaport on the Aegean Sea. The seaport combined with its location on a main road between Rome and the East, made it a prosperous trade center. Thessalonica was the capital and largest city (about 200,000 people) of Roman province of Macedonia.
It was a cosmopolitan city with a fair-sized Jewish community and a diversity of Greek, Roman, and local religious rites. Thessolonica had all the difficulties of big cities today such as New York, Chicago, Paris, Tokyo, and Milwaukee. I am sure there were conversations about the world problems and the attitude that the people were just going to the “dogs.” We sometimes hear similar words about our world today. I would say that Thessolonica would have never made“The US News and World Report” magazine, as one of the 10 top cities to move to and buy a house. Even with all this diversity and the big city problems the church at Thessalonica was born.
Paul had spent some time with these people forming a church. This small group began as a band of believers who were mostly God-fearing Greeks and former pagans. They withstood opposition from the Thessalonian Jews and also city officials. Yet through all this, we hear in this letter, [which Paul wrote after he had left the city] that this Thessalonian church was a model. Within just a few months it was a gathering of enthusiastic new believers. Whose courage, determination, eagerness and devotion had become well known. They still had much to learn about the Christian faith, yet their courage in the face of persecution formed them into a church filled with extraordinary promise.
These assemblies were set apart from others meeting in Thessalonica, by their understanding of God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. They were a group united by their faith set apart from a sinful world and committed to living out their Christianity despite persecution and an immoral culture.
This letter from Paul was in praise and thanksgiving for their work produced by their faith, hope and love.
What was it that motivated this “church” to have such an excited community, a group of people making a difference in Thessalonica?
The church community crossed all classes. Those who believed cut across the board in terms of--financial and social class--Greeks and Jews believed,--men and woman believed. The Thessalonica church brought many to Christ.
They became descriptive of the way God operates, in a group of people, in an urban setting. Paul says “they became, as it were, a volcano that erupted God's word across the whole map. They had none of the kinds of advantages that ought to have made them grow and succeed, and yet they became a pattern church. This Christian community was facing the struggles of just being a new community working together and struggling with the general climate of the city which was similar to our cities today.
--so many other “religions” were active.
--so many other organizations were pulling at their interest and time.
--so many nay sayers.
--so many other dangers were lurking at their doorsteps as they lived by the example of Jesus.
Now what does this history lesson have to do with us sitting here today, October, 17, 1999 in Wauwatosa, Wisconsin, a suburb of Milwaukee.
If you are like me, you may be asking yourself...“How did it happen”?
When they taught the Bible and proclaimed the scriptures,
I find myself wanting to know what their fellowship, and worship services were like, how they worked together?
As we explore all the accounts of this Christian community we are not told much at all about the techniques use.
We are told almost nothing about the style, about the way it was carried out.
---we don't know any of those things.
---we don't know how they propagated the gospel;
---we don't' know how they proclaimed it;
We know only one major thing about this great church and the effective ministry that came forth from it. We know how they advanced it. We know how they believed in themselves. We know that this example church in scripture was willing to embrace God's truth in their own hearts and how thoroughly and seriously and deeply they said, “When God speaks, I have to listen for me. I have to obey it. I can't shrug it off, I can't pick out the parts I like. I need to hear him and I need to be changed by him.” That is what characterized these people, and that is what gave them the foundation, so that when they did turn to the world to speak, they were listened to.
Look at verse 4, “for we know brethren beloved by God, that he has chosen you; (that is the activity and choice of God in your live, and the love of God in your life) for our gospel came to you not only in word but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction.”
The word did not come as something to be debated. It was not interesting philosophical discussion. It was God himself talking. It came with power.
It was as they say an “in your face” sensation that could not be ignored or set aside until later. There was something dramatic, needful, present and demanding about these words. They were powerful, and they came with full conviction, Paul says further in verse 6 that these people “received the word in much affliction, with the joy of the Holy Spirit.”
There are few things that are of clearer evidence of God at work in a thorough and heartfelt way than for people to be joyful in the midst of being hassled, hurt, set upon and denied their rights. This proclaims God's presence as almost nothing else does, and that was true of these people as well. We are told what the gospel did to them, what the truth of God did in their hearts and lives, in their relationships and business.
What is the important focus in verse 4? God chose them to be the example and God has chosen us to be the example. It really doesn't matter how they did ministry, what kinds of programs, Bible studies, fellowship gatherings they had. What does matter is that they heard the call of God through the Holy Spirit! They realized they were chosen by God and it energized them to Christian life of obedient service to God. Responsibility challenges us to build a life worthy of God's choice.
As you consider God's divine selection of you, how do you respond with pride or apathy or with a worshipful heart and obedience? Let's look at our own lives for a moment. Many of us have interviewed for a job. We go home and just know that is the job for us. Soon the call comes that we have been chosen for the position. What a wonderful feeling that energizes us. Then we arrive on our first day and we know we have a responsibility to do our best. It is not just a sit back and enjoy, but it is get down to work. Be the person you are trained to be. Sometimes that means there will be struggles.
I refer to my life. Next week we will all be celebrating God's call for me to serve in ordained ministry. I was chosen. Wow, the feeling that I had for that fleeting moment. I soon learned that being chosen was only the beginning of a responsibility to that call.
We also need to look at our life here at First Congregational Church. In the coming week we will be talking about our stewardship in the form of time and talent.
Why are you sitting here today? Some of you are saying “Well, my family has been members here way before I was even born.” or “I have just been here a long time.”
No, I don't think that is the whole story.
We make choices everyday. We can think of lots of other things to do on Sunday morning. And what's more we can join lots of other groups in this city. But, why are we here? I believe, setting all the rationalizing on the side, God chose each of us. God called each of us to be here. The question is, what for? What is our responsibility to God.
As we ask, “What did the church in Thessalonica do?” we do not have the answers.
---what should this church look like?
---what programs should we have?
---what should our worship service look like?
---where do I fit in?
All these questions. What we are all called to do is take the responsibility to build a life worthy of God's choice.
This morning we acknowledged a group of people who heard God's call to serve.
I will bet you if you asked any one of them, they would find it kind of hard to state exactly the reason for their desire to attend the visitation classes, complete the classes, and now go out and visit.
---what will each visit look like?
---what will they say to their people
---which they have been assigned?
All the questions and no answers. But they do know something directed them to continue to get up on three Saturday mornings and come to church for a class.
Then it was open to the Spirit. Now they must take that next step and trust the Holy Spirit.
As we turn back to look at the people in Thessalonica we look at the three characteristics as mentioned in verses 9 and 10. “You have turned to God from idols,
you have turned to serve the living God; and you have turned to wait for his son who he raised from the dead, that is Jesus.”
The mere fact that you are sitting here this morning says that you are either considering God, as opposed to all the other idols which we have to chose from in our lives, or you are saying to God, “Yes, I accept that you have chosen me and now what is my responsibility to you.” “How can I serve you?” “How can I live the example of Jesus Christ within me?”
Back to the Thessolonican community. These were people who would not be sidetracked by anything, an absolutely magnificent gospel ministry in a sophisticated capital city, very much like our own region. If this were to happen in our day we would shout it from the mountain top. Take a look at First Congregational Church of Wauwatosa. Do we believe God has chosen us?
The Thessalonian church was a remarkable people because of what God did in them, by the way they embraced his truth. We need to be people who, as we consider the world around us, will take the first step and say,
“Lord, what about me?
Where may I believe this more?
How may I give over the things I've held back?
Where have I failed to have my faith work and my love labor and my hope remain steadfast?
Lord you have chosen me!
I am here for your service!
I hear your call!”
Prayer:
Lord, we are grateful to you for this model church in Thessalonica. Thank you that we can learn from them. We ask that you will have us question ourselves about what it is in us that might be muting the life that you have intended for us as a community of faith. Help us see those things and give us a heart to obey to serve and to honor you. In Jesus' name. Amen.
